RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h
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1.3.1859 (Mon)

Concert by Prof. Shonbrun, piano, and some local amateurs (i.a. the Germania Singing Club) Programme:

No piano works were mentioned, with the exception of "Monastery Bells".

Vocal works: Sir Henry BISHOP: "The Pilgrim of Love", Wilhelm SPEYER (1790-1878) a bass aria, G. DONIZETTI: "The great tenor aria from 'Lucia di Lammermoor" (presumably "Tombe degli avi miei – Fra poco a me ricovero" from act III). Th: (New) Theatre Royal (E)

R Were Shanghailanders music lovers or not? One wonders for again "we were sorry to find so small an audience assembled on the occasion", but the wretchedly wet state of the weather had no doubt much to do with this". As it turned out the efforts of Mr. SHONBRUN were disappointing (at least in the ears of one critic — and how they may differ in opinion everyone knows). In this case the skill and artistic feeling which would be highly respectable in an amateur reflect no especial credit on a professional player and though Mr. SHONBRUN performed several pieces pleasingly we missed that precision, that brilliant crisp fingering and particularly that general careful finish which should characterize the true master of his instrument". The amateurs were more appreciated and the tenor singer even had to repeat his Lucia aria. For the first time the “Germania Singing Club" is mentioned, although there must have been earlier performances as the Herald says "the number of the singers on Tuesday was much smaller than on former occasions". Obviously it was in a somewhat precarious state for even a conductor was missing and the reviewer was "constrained to say, without wishing to be too critical on the performers of amateur music, that the Association has not kept up to the standard which it established for itself by former deeds" (NCH 12.3.1859).

2.6.1859 (Thur)

M. BARNETT: "The Serious Family" (1849)

T: Comedy (3 acts)

J.M. MORTON: "Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw (1851)

T: Farce (1 act)

C: Amateurs

Th: (New) Theatre Royal (E)

R: Very late in the season the last amateur night went off. And although the review was by no means scathing, the editor of the Herald thought it wise to add that "the heat at the theatre was extremely oppressive and this may have much to do with the lukewarm manner in which our critic speaks of the performances". The Serious Family was described as "an admirable satire upon that morbid and mistaken feeling of piety which regards a smile as wantonness, condemns gaiety as sin and backsliding”, nevertheless **as a scenic representation it smacks too much of dullness". The leading parts were put on the stage by Miss Minnie O'NETTE, who acted Lady Sowerly Creamly "to the life"; and Mr. TINTINNABULUM upon whom "the action of the Comedy seemed chiefly to rest. His stage bearing is admirable and his intonation excellent, but we may perhaps be permitted to take exception to his brogue which, however good as an assumption, scarcely denoted one to the manner born". Mr. PICKWICK exerted "to the utmost his undoubted talents for light comedy as Charles Torrens; on the other hand darling Mrs. NESBIT "scarcely found opportunity in the part of Mrs. Torrens for the display of that vivacity which forms her chief merit". Mr. BRUSHWOOD (00 lacked something in the role of Aminadab Sleck, viz "that racy appreciation of his part which usually characterizes him and the hat and garb of the puritan did not sit easily upon that comical little figure which has on previous occasions so often convulsed us with merriment". In contrast Miss WALTERS “looked and acted extremely well, causing us much regret that a drama more adapted to the exigencies of the Corps did not form the chief attraction of the evening. About the second piece, Grimshaw,
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RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h
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on any stage with ease and aptitude. And the part of the soubrette was acted "in a manner for which we had not given the young lady who sustained it credit" (NCH 17.3.1860).

10.5.1860 (Thur)

J. COURTNEY: “Time Tries All" (1848)

T: Drama (2 acts)

J.M. MORTON: “To Paris and back for £5" (1853)

T: Farce (1 act)

C: Amateurs

F: Music by the Germania Singing Club and the band of the 101st regiment

Th: N.N. (1)

N: Third and last performance of the season

R: Time Tries All was a revival from 1858 and in it some of the old familiar faces could be admired again. This time Mr. TINTINNBULUM personified Matthew Bates and he "threw an amount of grace and feeling into his acting that make us well regret his absence in the two former representations“. Mrs NESRIT gave a repeat of her Laura Leeson. One of the newcomers, Mr. ADOLPHE, “has assumed the character of negative instead of the positive villain of the last representation and almost succeeded in making us gape, so natural was his representation of that peculiar because catching disease". Phunago BRUSHWOOD reappeared in To Paris and back for £5 and this farce offered **full scope to his laughter moving capabilities, both as to acting and costume". There was music too, by the Germania Singverein – which reminded the critic “of their own charming Soirées Musicales" (not recorded). However, the construction of the theatre was "such as to mar to a considerable extent the effect of their well chosen and well executed pieces“ (NCH 12.5.1860).

17.3.1861 (Sunday)

Concert by the band of the French 101st regiment, conducted by Mr. Dumas. Programme:

G. DONIZETTI: "La Favorita", D.F.E. AUBER: "La Part du Diable", overture, **Haydée” (an opéra-comique), fantaisie, George BOUSQUET (1818-1854); “Hélène” (waltz), DENEAUX: Mazurka.

Location: Headquarters of General De Montauban at Messrs. Rémi, Schmidt & Co French Concession. (NCH 16.3.1861).

24.3.1861 (Sunday)

Concert by the band of the French 101st regiment, conducted by Mr. Dumas. Programme:

GURTNER: Pas redoublé, DUMAS: Ronde tyrolienne. D.F.E. AUBER: "La Muette de Portici", overture, G. ROSSINI: **[Il Barbiere di Siviglia” fantasia, D.F.E. AUBER: **Les Diamants de la Couronne", overture, “La Brise”.

Location: as on 17.3.1861 (NCH 23.3.1861).

31.3.1861 (Sunday)

Concert by the band of the French 101st regiment, conducted by Mr. Dumas.

Programme:

BOSCH: Pas redoublé. C.W. VON GLUCK: "Armide", F.M.V. MASSE: "La Chanteuse Voilée", overture, G. ROSSINI: "Mosè in Egitto”, chorus **Valse allemande“. GURTNER: "France" (polka).

Location: as on 17.3.1861 (NCH 30.3.1861)

November 1861

Concert by Signor Robbio.
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RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1994
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zk522640g
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It was not until 1931 that the Club was revived in rented premises on the fourth floor of No. 2 Connaught Road.

The club's concert hall was a popular venue for musicals. A singing group, the Liedertafel, was organised in 1873. A pianist, Franz Jachimeck made an eastern tour in 1867. He gave a private recital at the German Club and a public one at the hall of Club Lusitano. The concert included three German songs rendered by an amateur group. In the same year a lighter programme of entertainment was offered to the public in the following advertisement, "Ein Cultur-Historisch und Social Humoristische Vertrag aber Californian mit einem Seitenblick nach Yokohama. Donnerstage abends 9 Uhr in dem kleinen Saale des Oriental Hotel vor Dr. B.B. Schwarzbach, gehalten werden. Billet a $2 sind bei den Herr Lane, Crawford and Co., Hochstetter, Gaup, Cremer". The English speaking community were not deprived of Dr. Schwarzbach's lecture of culture, history and humour, for he repeated it in English a few nights later.

One of the highlights in the history of the old Club Germania was the visit of Prince Henry and Princess Irene of the Prussian royal family. Prince Henry was a grandson of Queen Victoria of England. Consequently the event was not confined to the German community. As a finale to the entertainment of the evening, a naval group from the British war ship "Powerful" presented three "real life Tableaux": Ready For Action, Battle Scene, and the Death of Nelson, all representative of British patriotism. Included was a patter song linking the guest of honour with his grandmother:

One word before I end my song

To welcome in far Hongkong

The grandson of our Gracious Queen

The Sailor Prince, of course, I mean;

To welcome him, may he always be

Found playing on the side of the Royal Navy.

The warm feelings between Britain and Germany prevailing during the visit of His Royal Highness, were dissipated when war clouds increasingly piled up before August 1914.
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